Friday, July 31, 2009

It's Friday book club time! It's all about sharing recent reads you've enjoyed, and increasing the size of each others to-be-read pile, so comment, comment! :-)

I've been in the mood for historical mysteries lately. I picked up Ariana Franklin's Mistress of the Art of Death on the recommendation of a friend, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's set in medieval England, and features a lady "mistress of the art of death" from the fabled University of Salerno, who's brought in to help solve the murders of four children in Cambridge.

I'll definitely be picking up the other books in this series. Follow the link if want to check out an excerpt!

I'm so pleased to have the lovely Jory Strong guest on the blog today! (Aren't her covers gorgeous?!)

Jory's giving away copies of either Ghostland or Spider Touched, to two random winners. Leave a comment by Friday 31st July, 12 noon, New Zealand time, to enter.

Everyone, please welcome Jory to the blog :-)____________

First, thanks to Nalini for inviting me to post on her blog. I'm a huge fan of her writing so it's an absolute thrill to have been asked!

Spider-Touched, my second book with Berkley releases August 4. You'd think by this point (it's my 32nd published story), I could kick back and just be excited, taking a “no worries” approach.

Hah! I wish.

Some authors liken the creative process to giving birth, and the end result to a baby introduced to the world on release day. I see it more as stepping out of the house naked just when a crowd happens to be gathered to take a good look.

Hmm…maybe my erotic romance roots are showing here :-)

Talk about feeling exposed and vulnerable! Still, despite the wide range of emotions that come with the territory of being an author, from the amazing highs to the terrible lows, and the roller-coaster ride connecting those two points, I can't imagine not writing.Authors are always asked where their ideas come from. Up until Ghostland, all of my published stories (and yes, I have a cabinet full of unpublished ones in other genres) were erotic romances. I still love writing erotic romance and don't see myself quitting, but with each new story I found myself spending more and more time on world building, and in wanting to delve into questions and realities that don't necessarily lend themselves to the erotic romance genre.

Ghostland, Spider-Touched and my current work-in-progress are the result of a desire to grow in a different direction and to explore a post-apocalyptic fantasy world by asking: What would it be like if humans no longer ruled as a result of their sheer numbers, their weapons and their technology? What kinds of societies would they form, especially if the supernaturals no longer needed to hide their existence? And what if there was a war brewing between ancient, unseen enemies (angels and Djinn) for who will ultimately control Earth--and the heroes and heroines who find love and want their own “happy ever after” unknowingly play a part in preparing for that war? In Ghostland, a Djinn prince and a gifted human shamaness are faced with an unbearable choice. Follow their hearts or stay true to their honor and risk losing an eternity of pleasure.

In Spider-Touched, for an enslaved angel whose memory and power are denied him, and a human who is more than she seems, learning the truth of what they are will destroy them unless their love is strong enough to overcome the dark legacy of a battle that began with the birth of mankind.

I love spending time in this post-apocalyptic world and hope readers will too! Some of the characters in Ghostland do make an appearance in Spider-Touched. And the heroine of my current work-in-progress plays an important role in Spider-Touched. She's a human healer matched, in her own story, with a Jaguar shapeshifter. Love those big cats! Especially Nalini's :-)

What about you? When it comes to a hero, what's your absolute favorite to read about? Human (with or without paranormal abilities)? Vampire? Shapeshifter (what kind)? Angel? Other?

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

I have so much love for this cover, I can't put it into words. Let's just say I've been unable to stop looking at it since it landed in my in-box!!

This is not quite the final version - the eagle-eyed among you might have noticed a tiny typo. That typo will be fixed in the final cover (I couldn't wait to share!). But just for fun - the first person to leave a comment stating what the typo is gets a Psy/Changeling series magnet. :)

I'll also send out a magnet to the first person to correctly guess Elena's location (click on the image to increase the size). It's a specific area in a specific city, and I absolutely adore how the Art Dept. integrated it so beautifully into the cover.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Woohoo, time for the Friday book club. It's all about sharing recommendations for books we've enjoyed recently, so leave a comment!

I picked up The Adoration of Jenna Fox because a friend was reading it. And well, the next thing you know, it's one in the morning and I'm glued to the page. It's a fantastic read! It has a little bit of a science fiction feel, but it's also very emotionally charged. I literally couldn't put it down.

Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a year-long coma, and she’s still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. Her parents show her home movies of her life, her memories, but she has no recollection. Is she really the same girl she sees on the screen?

Little by little, Jenna begins to remember. But along with the memories come questions—questions no one wants to answer for her. What really happened after the accident?

In this fascinating novel, acclaimed author Mary E. Pearson presents an unforgettable look at one human life and a glimpse into a possible future that may be closer than we think.

I was also lucky enough to interview the author, the lovely and talented Mary E. Pearson. Interview below!

1. Who is Mary Pearson? Give us the lowdown.

On a personal level, I have been married to the man of my dreams since I was a tot. I have two beautiful grown daughters who both tower over me–they have since they were twelve. My husband's tall genes are obviously much stronger than my short ones. I also have a wonderful son I got the easy way–my daughter married him. When I’m not reading and writing, nothing gives me greater pleasure than to hang out with my family which also includes two spoiled golden retrievers.

My first book was published back in 2000 and my fifth comes out next month–all YA novels. I don’t write for teens. I write about them. There’s a subtle difference!

2. AJF has an extremely intriguing premise - what inspired you to write this story? (Yes, I know, it's the dreaded inspiration question, but I can't help myself!)

The first seeds of the story came from two questions: First, how far will medicine advance in another fifty years? The second, how far would a parent go to save their child? These questions were planted in my mind back in 2000 when my daughter was diagnosed with cancer and I was plunged into the world of hospitals, doctors and endless amounts of waiting for appointments, tests, treatments, and results. Lots of time to think and wonder. I remember thinking how lucky we were that we lived where we did and when we did because there was a very good (and successful) treatment for her. I didn't know that years later these two questions or wonderings of mine would be the seed of JENNA's story. Even though the story is not about my family or experience, these experiences certainly got the wheels turning.

3. AJF has distinct science fiction elements. Is that something that's usually a part of your work?

No, not really. AJF is my first science fiction novel, and actually, when I was writing it, I didn’t even think of it as science fiction. For me, it was a story about relationships and how the people we care about complicate the choices we make including what we may have previously thought was right or wrong.

I am not sure that I ever follow a “usual” route with my stories. Each one has been very different from the previous one, from breezy humor, to romance, to dark and gritty, to sci-fi, and now something dipping into slipstream.

4. What are you working on at present?

It is still in the early stages–I am only about seventy pages in–and that is a fragile time in the life of a story, so I don’t really talk about it at this stage. But rest assured I am working on something!

5. In your view, what are some of the rewards/challenges of writing YA fiction?

I think the rewards and challenges are probably the same as writing for any genre. When you get that right word, the right chapter, the right piece of dialogue that you have been searching for, it feels deliciously wonderful. It is like the true story is there all along, waiting for you to uncover it, but it takes a lot of persistence and faith in the process to find it. I don’t outline or plan out a story–I just concentrate on listening to the character and being true to their voice and perspective.

6. Could you give us a little info on your next release?

My newest book, The Miles Between, is out on September 1–only a month away! It’s about four teens who take off on an “unauthorized” road trip in search of one fair day. Destiny, the main character is obsessed with coincidences–and for good reason. She also has a secret she is keeping from the three classmates that she’s taken off with, and as the story unfolds, she discovers they have secrets of their own. It's a larger-than-life type of story where fantasy bleeds into reality, and you’re never quite sure where one begins and the other ends. Lots of “coincidences” ensue! I had fun writing it, even though it has its dark moments too.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Questions about either the Psy/Changeling or Guild Hunter series are okay. Though if you have questions about earlier books in the Psy/Changeling series, you might want to check out the Q & A thread from last year to see if I answered it there.

The floor's now open for questions... (and will remain so until the end of the week).

Edited to add: There will be *spoilers*, so if you haven't read Branded By Fire or Angels' Blood, swing back after you've had a chance to read them :-)

Saturday, July 18, 2009

We've just updated the website. Lots of good stuff, including a contest for an ARC of Must Love Hellhounds, shiny new excerpts and... I was a bit sneaky and "hid" a piece of information on the site. If you find it, shh... Let's give everyone a chance to play ;-)

Friday, July 17, 2009

It's book club time! For those who haven't joined in before - it's all about sharing the books we've enjoyed recently. So if you have a read you'd like to share, leave a comment!

I haven't read much this week, but prior to that, I blazed my way through C.S. Harris's four Sebastian St. Cyr novels (thanks for the rec, Orannia!).

This is a historical mystery series set in Regency England. It's dark, gritty, and while it does have a romantic thread, it falls firmly into the mystery genre. This is what it says on the author's website about the hero, Sebastian: "Think Mr. Darcy with a James Bond edge..." I completely agree!

The first book is What Angels Fear - you can check out an excerpt and read more about the series on the author's website. I'm now impatiently waiting for book five - What Remains of Heaven.

The Q & A session I promised everyone is scheduled for next week. I'll open the thread on Monday and close it Sunday, so you'll have lots of time to get questions in.

For those of you who prefer the forum format, I'll also be answering questions over at the fan forum beginning Tuesday.

I've also got three great links to share today.

Environmental artist Sally J Smith is guest-blogging over on Riding With the Top Down and you must go and see her work. It's incredibly beautiful and inspiring. Here's a link to Sally's personal blog. (Thanks to Michele Hauf for the heads-up on the guest blog).

For writers & readers - check out this great video of Nora Roberts where she talks about writing and Roarke.

Author TJ Bennett is giving away lots of RITA nominated books. There might be something in an upcoming tote from yours truly :)

Today we get to meet the third guest in my monthly series on authors from my part of the world - Sandra Hyatt!Not only is Sandra a friend, she's a debut author whose first book has just come out. Congratulations, Sandra!!

She's here today sharing the really cool story of where she got the "Call" and giving away a copy of her debut book, so leave a comment to be in the draw.

Everyone, please give a very warm welcome to Sandra. :-)

____________

First off – thanks Nalini for inviting me to blog with you.

It's great to have something like this going on while it seems so many authors I know are off having a wonderful time in Washington DC at the Romance Writers of America national conference.

I have fabulous memories of last year's San Francisco conference. The whole conference is always an amazing experience – terrific workshops and speakers, editors, agents, publishers and hundreds and hundreds, if not thousands of authors all in the one place. And the best thing is that every last person there is passionate about romance.

Then, of course, there are the Golden Heart Awards for unpublished manuscripts and the RITA Awards for the very best in published Romance fiction. (Fingers crossed on Saturday night for Mine to Possess in the paranormal romance category. How could Clay and Tally's story not win?).But last year's conference was particularly special for me because that was where I got The Call from my editor saying she wanted to buy my book. To get that news, in a place like that, and to be able to share it on the spot and in person with my writing friends (as well as the complete strangers I told) was so much fun.
And now, a year down the track, that call has resulted in my very first book Having The Billionaire's Baby hitting the shelves in North America right about now. It's resulted in me being able to hold a real book with my name on the cover, in my hot little hands. It's also resulted in me being able to answer, when someone asks what I do, that I write romance. This is a dream come true for me, a dream that was ten years in the making, and a dream which I'm hoping is only just beginning.

I love the writing of my stories, the way characters come to life, and the way they shape their own destinies on paper. Callie, The heroine of Having the Billionaire's Baby has always been a 'good' girl, always followed the rules, and always carefully planned her life. But on the night of her ex-fiancé's wedding she gives herself permission to throw caution to the wind and act on impulse. Her actions that night land her in hot water with Nick (who plays by his own rules) and her carefully ordered life is turned upside down.

As exciting as it's all been, it's a bit like a rollercoaster too. There are parts where you're slowly climbing to a peak, not knowing what's in front of you. The book hitting the shelves is one of those peaks, because for so many years the only people who've read what I've written have been a few critique partners and some contest judges. Now the whole world—and my mother—can read it.

I'd love it if anyone out there had experiences they wanted to share where they had doubts but triumphed wildly (or even mildly).

Thirteen-year-old Cody Saron has been home schooled his whole life by his father, an undercover agent for the CIA. Cody has never lived the same life as other kids his age. He never went to a regular school, never lived in one place longer than a few weeks, never had a friend or played on any sports teams. Cody’s a black belt in the arts of Tae Kwon Do and Ju Jitsu. He speaks five languages and has traveled to every corner of the globe. But what Cody isn't prepared for is . . . junior high.

When the danger surrounding Cody's dad heats up like never before, Cody is sent to stay with the aunt he's never known, Jenny Williams, in her small Connecticut suburb. Cody knows how to pick a lock or follow a trail, but he has no idea how to fit in with regular kids, how to handle his first crush, or how to make it through a day of classes. How will he ever fit in?

“I just finished reading Greg Logsted’s Alibi Junior High in a single sitting. Thankfully the family had other things to do for a while because the author nailed me to the pages with his premise and with the fantastic pacing of this young adult novel. I wasn’t tempted even once to get up and go do something else. Logsted starts his spell on page one, and readers will have to stay with him to see what ultimately happens to Cody Saron, the 13-year-old professional spy.” ~ Mel Odol, INDENVER TIMES

Greg Logsted currently lives in Danbury with his wife and fellow author, Lauren Baratz-Logsted and their daughter Jackie. He is the author of Something Happened and coauthor of The Sisters 8 series for young readers.

Today we have a very special guest - German writer,Michelle Raven! Michelle and I are both published by LYX in Germany, and we "met" via e-mail. Her very first paranormal romantic suspense releases next week - and she's agreed to drop by and answer questions, so feel free to hit her with them! The book is being released in German. However, Michelle speaks both German and English, so questions in both languages are welcome.

M: Thank you Nalini for having me! I’m honored and thrilled that you invited me to your blog. I’m reading ‘Branded by Fire’ at the moment and I love it! Not a big surprise, since I loved all the other books of the Psy/Changeling series, too.

Michelle Raven is my alter ego who writes romantic suspense and now also paranormal romantic suspense novels. In real life I’m working as a one person librarian in a museum in Lower Saxony, Germany. I started writing in 1999, when I was reading a travel guide about USA’s National Parks and suddenly had an idea for a story when I saw a picture of the Fiery Furncace in Arches NP. I wrote three years on that one and it was published immediately afterwards in October 2002. Since then I’m hooked on writing (and publishing!) and hope I can keep doing that for a very long time.

2. What is the title of your July release in German? Translated into English?

The serial title is ‚Ghostwalker’ (which is a Native American term for Mountain Lions/Cougars) and the title of the first volume is ‘Die Spur der Katze’ (= ‘Track of the cat’). Publication date is July 15th, which is actually next week.

‘Die Spur der Katze’ is about former New York journalist Marisa Pérèz, who one night finds an injured and very naked man on the doorstep of her sequestered cottage. An ugly scandal made her leave New York City and come to Mariposa, a small town in California near Yosemite National Park. Marisa tends to the wounds and let’s the stranger stay, even though he acts and looks somewhat – abnormal. But he is also quite handsome, if you like the tall, lean and rugged look.

The next day two detectives come to her cottage, investigating the murder of a neighbour. Marisa doesn’t know if the stranger was involved in the crime, but she lies to the detectives to protect him. Now the murderers are not only chasing Coyle, as the man is called, but also Marisa because she helped him.

When her cottage is attacked the following night, Coyle leads her into the forest, away from civilization. Marisa is suddenly thrown into a whole new world, where Coyle changes into something that can’t really exist.

5. What did you find most challenging / most interesting, about writing this book?

Writing the paranormal elements was really challenging for me, because I had never done that before. I tried to stick to reality as much as possible, because I wanted the heroine to realize that the world she knows is not everything out there. The possibility that other 'beings' exist and that they have many problems normal humans don’t even have to think about. But I really liked the way Marisa handled what I dumped in her lap and I loved her interaction with Coyle in all his shapes.

Friday, July 10, 2009

First, a heads-up: We're going to have a very special and truly international guest on the blog tomorrow, so make sure to drop by. Hint: if you speak German, you definitely won't want to miss this. Oooh, who can it be?

~

And now onto today's post!

Check out the incredibly gorgeous cover of the Thai translation of Caressed By Ice. Isn't it stunning?! I absolutely had to share this - huge thanks to my Thai publisher, Kaewkarn Publishing for sending it to me!

Thursday, July 09, 2009

I'm currently working on the next Psy/Changeling book, and the hero of that book is....*drum roll please*...Max!

I've wanted to write about the cop since he first appeared in Mine to Possess, and he's definitely living up to expectations ;-) His heroine is someone you haven't met yet, but I think you'll love her. Lots of big developments happening in this book - some things are going to break wide open and there are surprises aplenty.

Tuesday, July 07, 2009

Thank you everyone for making the countdown to Branded By Fire so fabulous!! I hope you all had a fun time and that you enjoy Mercy and Riley's story!!

Thank you also to everyone who's dropped by the blog to comment, and/or written to me about Branded. I'm so absolutely delighted by the response to the book! Because so many of you have written re a spoiler thread, I'll open one up on the blog tomorrow! (There'll also be a spoiler section going up on the fan forum).

I've got a few release day links I wanted to share.

I was interviewed by the lovely Jax Cassidy for Hooked on Romance. Swing by and say hi (there's a book and a super-duper magnet *grin* up for grabs).

Several awesome reviews of Branded have just gone up around the web. Here are some snippets and links!

I closed Branded by Fire at 11 PM, having skipped making or eating dinner until then so I could finish reading Mercy and Riley’s story. Sexy, intense and riveting, this book was also deeply satisfying. I couldn’t put it down.

And from the first chapter when they finally share total skin-to-skin privileges and then some, the pages burn up with passion, lust, anger, tenderness, sensitivity, claws, teeth and all when these two interact in and out of the bedroom.

I've always loved how Singh doesn't simply portray her changelings as people who just happen to be able to shift into animals. Rather, the fact that a they are animals as well as humans influences her changelings even when they are in human form. "Their animal" is still there, and will react to events and feelings, giving changelings' emotional reactions a certain wildness which I love.

Mercy and Riley release tomorrow! (Or the day after if you're in another timezone ;-)) If you'd like to have a glimpse behind the scenes of Branded By Fire, I've written a special letter to readers that you can read by following the link!How are your party feet? Ready to keep on dancing? Today's cyber launch giveaways are a copy of Elizabeth Thornton'sThe Scot and I, and a copy of Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop. (As regular blog readers know, I'm a huge, huge fan of Anne Bishop's Black Jewels books, and I attempt to pass on the addiction wherever possible. Daughter of the Blood is the first book.)

Entry rules are the same as Monday. Leave your answer to the day's burning question and you're in. Bring a friend and I'll give you another entry. And don't forget to note if you've already got one of the books.

Today's burning question: Which book or series do you love so much that you're constantly trying to get other people to read them? Or conversely, has a friend convinced you to read something that you never would have on your own?

This book was powerful, hot, sexy, and filled with all sorts of changeling goodness...Every new book opens up this world even more to give us a glimpse into amazing worlds, incredible worldbuilding and characters you can’t help but fall in love with.

And look, Romance Junkies just gave it a Blue Ribbon Favorite Award!Today's cyber-launch party giveaways are a copy of Immortal Outlaw by Lisa Hendrixand a copy of Dirty, Sexy Knitting by Christie Ridgway.

Entry rules are the same asMonday. Leave your answer to the day's burning question and you're in. If you bring a friend or tell others about the party, I'll give you an extra entry.

Onto today's burning question: How much to covers affect your book-buying? What are some of your favorite covers--recent or otherwise?

Saturday, July 04, 2009

Pissenlit - Touched by Light by Catherine SpanglerKatie S. - Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James

Congratulations!

____________

The things I do for you guys. Today, I went on a daring raid and *borrowed* Curran from Ilona Andrews' Livejournal. Under no circumstances is anyone to tell Ilona. We'll give him back...maybe *grin*

Oooh, look at those eyes.

Branded By Fire featuring another hot and brooding male, officially hits the shelves on Tuesday, woohoo!!

To celebrate the cyber-launch, today I'm giving away a copy of Touched By Light by Catherine Spangler, and a copy of Just the Sexiest Man Alive by Julie James. We chatted about Just the Sexiest Man Alive at this Friday Book Club :)Entry rules are the same as Monday! Leave a comment answering the day's burning question and you're in. Bring a friend or spread the word about the party and I'll give you an extra entry or entries. Also, don't forget to let me know if you've already got one of the books.

And today's burning question - well, with all this testosterone on the blog today, it can really only be this: Who do you consider the sexiest man in the world?

The way Mercy and Riley’s relationship is unfolded, broken, repaired, strengthened and resolved is done so beautifully. Their conflict isn’t trivial, and the push-and-pull for control is both fun and excruciating. I was barracking for both of them the entire time, and not once did I feel like one should surrender to the other.

I hope you guys are all enjoying the cyber launch party. I thought it was time to pass around some drinks. (The pic's from my last dinner at the 2008 RAW conference).

Entry rules are the same asMonday. Leave a comment with your response to the day's burning question. Bring a friend or tell folks about the party and you get a second entry. (And don't forget to note if you already have one of the books).

And what is today's burning question? SinceBranded By Firekicks off with a love scene (!) - the first time I've ever begun a book that way, let's talk about heat:What makes a love scene work for you? Conversely, what would make you skip a love scene?

Branded By Fire releases next Tuesday! Here's what KMont at Lurv A La Mode had to say about Mercy and Riley's story:

Seeing them try to keep their alpha tendencies walled up and defending their emotions was both amusing and heart pounding when they began to crumble.

To read the full review, follow the link!The cyber launch party continues today with the giveaway of a paranormal romance - Alyssa Day'sAtlantis Unleashed, and a historical anthology - Talk of the Ton!Entry rules are the same as Monday. Leave your answer to the burning question in the comments! And if you bring along a friend to the party, it'll give you another entry for the day's giveaways.

Today's burning question is inspired by the anthology above: If you could live in any time period, past, present or future, which would you choose?

I have to say that I’ve always been very partial to the alphas in this series, Lucas (especially) and Hawke. But Riley’s tortured past; his deep well of feeling, so well hidden got all of my emotions working. The treat of the book, for me, was getting to know him, learning about his past, and how it’s shaped him as a man, and how hard he falls for Mercy. He flounders quite a bit, which is unnerving for someone as ordered as Riley.

Entry rules are the same asMonday! In short, leave your answer to the day's burning question to go into the random draw. If you bring a friend, I'll give you an extra entry :) (Don't forget to tell me if you've already got one of the books).

Today's burning question is:We've talked about heroes, now it's time for the heroines. Which heroine would you like to be for a day or a week? Reasons why?

A NEW DAWN BEGINS FOR THE PSY-CHANGELING WORLD…

BECAUSE HAPPILY EVER AFTER DESERVES A SECOND CHANCE

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